miR-34a as part of the resistance network in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
17p (TP53) deletion identifies patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who are resistant to chemotherapy. The members of the miR-34 family have been discovered to be direct p53 targets and mediate some of the p53-dependent effects. We studied miR-34a and miR-34b/c expression in a large cohort to define their potential role in refractory CLL. While no expression of miR-34b/c could be detected, we found variable expression levels of miR-34a. miR-34a levels were up-regulated after DNA damage in the presence of functional p53, but not in cases with 17p deletion (P < .001). We found a strong correlation of low miR-34a levels with impaired DNA damage response, TP53 mutations (without 17p deletion), and fludarabine-refractory disease (also in the absence of 17p deletion). Up-regulation of miR-34a after irradiation was associated with induction of Bax and p21, but not Puma. CLL cells with reduced miR-34a expression showed increased viability after DNA damage independently of 17p status. Therefore, low expression of miR-34a in CLL is associated with p53 inactivation but also chemotherapy-refractory disease, impaired DNA damage response, and apoptosis resistance irrespective of 17p deletion/TP53 mutation. The elucidation of mechanisms underlying miR-34a regulation and overcoming its role in chemotherapy resistance warrant further study.
Zenz
Thorsten
T
Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Mohr
Julia
J
Eldering
Eric
E
Kater
Arnon P
AP
Bühler
Andreas
A
Kienle
Dirk
D
Winkler
Dirk
D
Dürig
Jan
J
van Oers
Marinus H J
MH
Mertens
Daniel
D
Döhner
Hartmut
H
Stilgenbauer
Stephan
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C494826:BAX protein, human; C438378:BBC3 protein, human; C522425:MIRN34 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein